IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID UPDATE:
Students and families will continue to have access the FAFSA and receive Federal Aid during the U.S. government shutdown. UMW’s dedicated Financial Aid Advisors are ready to assist students and families experiencing financial hardship during this time. If you have questions about changes in your financial status, bill pay options, etc. contact UMW Financial Aid at finaid@umw.edu, (540)654-2468, or by visiting our office on the second floor of Lee Hall.
Financial Aid Timelines
Applying for financial aid can be a confusing process for many. Here are simple timelines to help keep students and families on track.
| Prior to October 1 | Students and parents of dependent students: Create a Federal Student Aid ID, so that you can complete your FAFSA after October 1 of the year prior to admission. |
| October 1 | FAFSA available! |
| February 1 | UMW Online Scholarship Manager open. Apply for UMW Scholarships! |
| March 1 | FAFSA Deadline: Apply by this date to receive the max amount of financial aid for which you are eligible. FAFSA’s will still be accepted after the March 1 deadline. All undergraduate students continue to be eligible for federal Direct Student Loans, and Federal Grants. Other funds (Virginia State Grants, scholarships, etc.) will not be available after the priority deadline. |
| May 15 | Online Scholarship Application Deadline – 11:59 pm. |
| Throughout June | Attend UMW Orientation! Don’t forget to attend our Financial Aid sessions! |
| June 1 | Deadline to submit all requested verification documents to the UMW Financial Aid Office. Also, don’t forget to complete the IRS Data Retrieval through your FAFSA. These requirements can be found on your Banner under the Financial Aid tab. |
| Early August | If your financial aid exceeds your student bill, consider completing a Bookstore Voucher, which allows you to use a portion of your refund in the UMW Bookstore! |
| Prior to October 1 | Students and parents of dependent students: Create a Federal Student Aid ID, so that you can complete your FAFSA after October 1 of the year prior to admission. |
| October 1 | FAFSA available! (2025-26 FAFSA not available to until December) |
| February 1 | UMW Online Scholarship Manager open. Apply for UMW Scholarships! |
| April 1 | FAFSA Deadline: Apply by this date to receive the max amount of financial aid for which you are eligible. FAFSA’s will still be accepted after the March 1 deadline. All undergraduate students continue to be eligible for federal Direct Student Loans, and Federal Grants. Other funds (Virginia State Grants, scholarships, etc.) will not be available after the priority deadline. |
| May 15 | Online Scholarship Application Deadline – 11:59 pm. |
| June 1 | Deadline to submit all requested verification documents to the UMW Financial Aid Office. Also, don’t forget to complete the IRS Data Retrieval through your FAFSA. These requirements can be found on your Banner under the Financial Aid tab. |
| July/August | If you have eligibility for the 2 Year Virginia Transfer Grant, submit the application to the UMW Office of Financial Aid. |
| Early August | If your financial aid exceeds your student bill, consider completing a Bookstore Voucher, which allows you to use a portion of your refund in the UMW Bookstore! |
| August | Attend UMW Orientation! Don’t forget to attend our Financial Aid sessions! |
| Prior to October 1 | Students and parents of dependent students: Create a Federal Student Aid ID, so that you can complete your FAFSA after October 1 of the year prior to admission. |
| October 1 | FAFSA available! (2025-26 FAFSA not available to until December) |
| February 1 | UMW Online Scholarship Manager open. Apply for UMW Scholarships! |
| March 1 | FAFSA Deadline: Apply by this date to receive the max amount of financial aid for which you are eligible. FAFSA’s will still be accepted after the March 1 deadline. All undergraduate students continue to be eligible for federal Direct Student Loans, and Federal Grants. Other funds (Virginia State Grants, scholarships, etc.) will not be available after the priority deadline. |
| May 15 | Online Scholarship Application Deadline – 11:59 pm. |
| June 1 | Deadline to submit all requested verification documents to the UMW Financial Aid Office. Also, don’t forget to complete the IRS Data Retrieval through your FAFSA. These requirements can be found on your Banner under the Financial Aid tab. |
| Early August | If your financial aid exceeds your student bill, consider completing a Bookstore Voucher, which allows you to use a portion of your refund in the UMW Bookstore! |
| Prior to October 1 | Students and parents of dependent students: Create a Federal Student Aid ID, so that you can complete your FAFSA after October 1 of the year prior to admission. |
| October 1 | FAFSA available! (2025-26 FAFSA not available to until December) |
| February 1 | UMW Online Scholarship Manager open. Apply for UMW Scholarships! |
| April 1 | While there is no FAFSA deadline for graduate students, we encourage students to submit early, so that the student bill will be paid by the billing deadline. |
| May 15 | Online Scholarship Application Deadline – 11:59 pm. |
| Early August | If your financial aid exceeds your student bill, consider completing a Bookstore Voucher, which allows you to use a portion of your refund in the UMW Bookstore! |